28 Feb 2023: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

B. GS 2 Related

Nothing here for today!!!

E. Editorials

Category: ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Unpacking the new set of e-waste rules

Syllabus: GS-3, Environmental pollution and degradation.

Mains: New e-waste rule and associated concerns.

Context: New e-waste rules will come into force on 1st April 2023.

Details:

• In the era of rapid urbanization, digitalisation, and population growth, managing e-waste has become a big challenge.
• A set of E-waste rules was first notified in 2011 (came into effect in 2012). 
• An important component of the rules was Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
  • EPR implies that ‘producers’ are responsible for the safe disposal of electronic and electric products once the consumer discards them.
• E-waste rules 2016 (amended in 2018) were comprehensive rules and introduced features like  ‘authorization’ and ‘product stewardship’. It also proposed the provisions of ‘Producer Responsibility Organisations (PRO)’.
• The Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) notified a new set of e-waste rules in November 2022 (it will come into force on 1st April 2023).

For more information on e-waste, read here: Electronic Waste – E-waste Management Rules 2016

Salient features of the new e-waste rules:

• It includes the provision of an EPR framework with the mandatory requirement of ‘Registration of Stakeholders’ (manufacturer, producer, refurbisher, and recycler).
• A ‘digitalized systems approach’ is also proposed in the new rules (2022) which will address the challenges of the weak monitoring systems, lack of transparency, inadequate compliance, and channelizing processing to the informal sector (which is a violation of the law).
• A common digital portal will also reduce instances of ‘paper trading’ or ‘false trails’. It means the practice of falsely revealing 100% collection on paper while collecting and/or weighing ‘scrap’ to meet targets.
• It also briefly touches on the two aspects namely ‘component recovery’ and ‘residual disposal’.
  • Component recovery refers to adequate and efficient recoveries of rare earth metals so as to reduce dependence on virgin resources.
  • Residual disposal means the safe disposal of the ‘residual’ material during the e-waste recycling process.

Associated concerns:

• It is argued that the proposed rules do not clearly state the requirement for ensuring the ‘recovery tangent’. 
• Moreover, the new rules eliminate the PRO and dismantlers and give the entire responsibility of recycling to authorized recyclers.
  • It should be noted that PROs acted as an intermediary between producers and formal recyclers and arranged for ‘certified and authorized’ recycling.
  • They also ensured ‘double verification’ in terms of the quantity and quality of recycling.
• The new rules neglect the role of the informal sector despite the fact that 95% of e-waste is channelized by them.
  • Notably, all the stages (collection, segregation, and clustered accumulation of e-waste) do not involve any hazardous practices.
  • It is probably the last stage, where e-waste is handed over to the informal dismantlers/recyclers, which poses a major concern in e-waste management.
• Many producers have not established collection centres. Similarly, formal companies fail to provide facilities for doorstep collection to consumers.
• Moreover, consumers lack awareness of the existence of e-waste collection services.

Way Ahead:

• The activities of the recyclers should be recorded and the authorities should periodically monitor the quantity of e-waste undergoing the recycling process.
• Integration of informal aggregators in the collection mechanism – This will provide a safe and structured system and will provide financial and legal security to the informal sector. For example, the initiative of ‘Karo Sambhav’ in Delhi.
• For the efficient implementation of the law, stakeholders should have the appropriate information with a clear intent of safely disposing of the e-waste.
• It is also important to:
  • Raise consumer awareness
  • Strengthen reverse logistics
  • Build the capacity of stakeholders
  • Improve existing infrastructure
  • Enhance product design
  • Rationalize input control (particularly by defining ‘rare earth elements’ as ‘critical raw materials’)
  • Adopt green procurement practices. 
  • Ensure a robust collection and recycling system

Also read: Sansad TV Perspective: Tackling E waste

Nut Graf: New e-waste management rules have been notified by the government. However, it has multiple challenges like the reduced role of the informal sector, which needs to be addressed on an urgent basis as the informal sector is the ‘face’ of e-waste disposal in India.

Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. The New START treaty on pause

Syllabus: GS-2, Effect of policies and politics of the developed world.

Mains: New START treaty.

Prelims: New START treaty.

Context: The Russian President announced the suspension of its participation in the New START treaty (February 2023).

Details:

• On the eve of the first anniversary of Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine (23rd February 2023), Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia was unilaterally suspending the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty (New START) with the U.S.
• The U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, responded by terming the move as “deeply unfortunate and irresponsible”.
• The START treaty was signed in 1982 by Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, the then leaders of the U.S. and the erstwhile Soviet Union respectively.

For more details, read here: Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty [New START Treaty]

Background Details:

• The U.S. and Russia engaged in multiple bilateral talks to reduce and keep checks on each other’s nuclear arsenals. For instance,
  • The Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) was the first formal dialogue in 1969.
  • The Anti-Ballistic Missile defence systems Treaty was signed in 1972. It provided for the shooting down of incoming missiles. It was unilaterally pulled out of the pact by the U.S. in 2002.
  • In 1991, the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I) was signed (expired in 2009).
  • The Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty (SORT or Moscow Treaty) was signed in 2002. However, it was replaced by the New START treaty in 2010.
• The New START treaty was the last remaining nuclear weapons control agreement between Moscow and Washington that together hold 90% of the world’s nuclear arsenal.

Details about the New START treaty:

• It was signed by former U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. It came into force in February 2011.
• In 2021, it was extended for five years.
• According to the Treaty, America and Russia cannot deploy more than 1,550 strategic nuclear warheads and more than 700 long-range missiles and bombers. 
• It further limits the countries to 800 deployed and non-deployed launchers and delivery vehicles. 
• Moreover, it allows both countries to carry out up to 18 short-notice (32 hours) on-site inspections of strategic nuclear weapons sites annually to check that the other country had not violated the limits set in the treaty.
• Russia and the U.S. should also exchange data on ballistic missiles, bombers, test sites, nuclear bases, etc twice a year.
• It also mandates the two countries to send notifications within five days of new changes or updates in their stockpile. For example, moving missiles to a new base or deploying a new warhead to the system.
• The agreement gave both countries seven years to reduce their stockpiles. Consequently, in 2018 both nations met the arms limits prescribed by the pact.
• It should be noted that the inspections were put on hold in March 2020 (due to COVID-19).

Russia’s stand:

• Russian President Vladimir Putin said that while the U.S. had pushed for the resumption of inspections of Russian nuclear facilities, NATO allies were helping Ukraine to launch drone attacks on Russian air bases hosting nuclear-capable strategic bombers.
• Russia has also pointed out that the nuclear weapons of Britain and France were part of NATO’s nuclear capability but weren’t included in the U.S.-Russian pact.
• The U.S. is also accused of rejecting Russian requests for visits to specific U.S. facilities.

Consequences of the move:

• The analysts suggest that the move would not immediately trigger an arms race between the two powers, as Russia has not withdrawn from the treaty and only “suspended” it.
• Moreover, the Russian administration has clearly stated that it does not plan to breach the limits on warheads prescribed in New START. 
• Similarly, in another statement by the Russian Foreign Minister, Russia would continue to notify the U.S. of planned test launches of inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).
• It is also highlighted that the move is a political message indicating that Russia no longer thinks that nuclear arms control is a separate issue from bilateral relations (Russia-Ukraine conflict).
• Observers are of the view that Russia’s move will disturb the fragile calculus of nuclear arms controls between the two largest nuclear powers.
• It will also give an opportunity to other nuclear-armed countries, particularly China and others (Pakistan, Iran, Israel, and India) to increase their arsenals.
• It also has the potential to hamper arms control cooperation between the U.S. and China.

Also read: Nuclear Arms Control – Non-Proliferation Treaty & India and US Nuclear Deal

Nut Graf: Russia’s move to suspend the New START treaty has raised concerns for international peace. It would give the opportunity to other nuclear-armed countries to increase their arsenals.